The television series Breaking Bad ran from 2008 to 2013 on the AMC Network. This popular drama starred Bryan Cranston, a high school chemistry teacher named Walter White who is diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. The plot thickens when White turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family’s future. Sometimes when your motives are pure, souls can become lured away, distracted by temptation, resulting in the spiritual version of breaking bad.
As it is written and forever remains written,“There is none righteous [none that meets God’s standard], not even one, Romans 3:10.
The apostle Paul expands upon this concept in a letter to the church at Rome. The context of the passage above refers to legalistic religious leaders like the Pharisees who attempted to be holy without God’s help. Paul corrects anyone who thinks otherwise by stating that no one meets God’s standard of perfection. Thus, when individuals seek to pursue God without leaning on the power of the Holy Spirit, becoming bad can happen to anyone.
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose, Romans 8:28.
The passage above contains a promise. However, as people go through life, there are accidents, bad breaks and unfair circumstances that don’t make any sense when they occur. These unforeseen events make embracing this promise from God difficult. The human mind struggles to grasp the purpose of heart breaking moments, painful experiences and gut wrenching trials. Nonetheless, as Christians pursue God’s will for their life, don’t be surprised by periods when you are not yourself. These troubling stretches are marked and stained by immaturity when demons, selfish ambition and worldly desires result in breaking bad until repentance occurs.
Nearly twenty years ago I worked directly across the street from the Liberty Bell, driving by it six days a week. To a certain extent, I took this local landmark for granted, just another piece of scenery on my ninety minute commute home. Two years after leaving this position, National Treasure debuted in theaters. Nicolas Cage and Justin Bartha play treasurer hunters, Benjamin Gates and Riley Poole, searching for a treasure left behind by several founding fathers who were Free Masons. In this film, the Liberty Bell holds a clue, the next piece to a puzzle that ultimately leads to a hidden vault underneath a church in New York City. Yet, this two thousand pound structure made out of copper and tin is much more than just a bell.
And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan, Leviticus 25:10.
In 1751, the Pennsylvania assembly ordered a bell for its State House, today’s Independence Hall. The assembly chose a biblical inscription from the Bible that proclaims “liberty throughout the land,” Leviticus 25:10. This bell would become an emblem of American independence. One century later this bell also served as a symbol of the anti-slavery movement during the Civil War. Initially, the Liberty Bell summoned Philadelphia lawmakers to their assemblies and local citizens to public announcements. Today, over five million visitors travel to Independence National Historical Park to see this national treasure.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Isaiah 61:1.
The context of the phrase “liberty throughout the land” comes from an Old Testament practice known as the Year of Jubilee. The symbolism of this celebration is based upon freedom, setting anyone living in bondage or enslaved free. Every fifty years on the Jewish calendar, the Jubilee cancelled any outstanding debts. Thus, slaves were allowed to return to their homeland without being forced to return. When you add the year of Jubilee to the end of slavery in America, the Liberty Bell has duel meanings. If you ever have a chance to visit Independence National Park in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, remember that this monument is much more than a bell.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, there will always be biases that exist in life. These opinions cause a certain segment of society to feel or show inclination of prejudice for or against someone or something. Unfortunately, these stereotypes often develop into beliefs resulting in inequality. While growing up, Hollywood portrayed a skewed version of women and the Bible, emphasizing the submissive role of a wife in marriage, Ephesians 5. Thus, many females rejected the Bible, Christianity and the desire to take faith seriously.
The Lord gives the command [to take Canaan]; The women who proclaim the good news are a great host (army); Psalm 68:11.
Like any conversation that you over hear or interrupt, if you walk into it at the wrong moment, you will miss a portion of the context. Such is the case of the Old Testament passage above. On the surface, this verse appears to suggest that God honors women who gossip, passing on what they were told. When you dig deeper into Bible commentaries, you will find these women possessed two key qualities. First, they believed victory was possible despite the impenetrable wall surrounding Jericho. Second, these women encouraged others to believe by dancing and singing songs expecting victory to occur, void of any doubt.
“From my upbringing and the Bible I learned people should stand up for rights just as the children of Israel stood up to the Pharaoh,” Rosa Parks 1994.
During the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, one woman made a huge impact. While entering a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to sit in the colored section of this bus. Park’s decision inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott. While Dr. Martin Luther King has received a majority of the credit for Civil Rights in America, Congress has referred to Rosa Parks as “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement”. Based upon the quote above, Parks shares a common worldview with the women mentioned in Psalm 68. These women applied the biblical principles they were taught as a children by taking a stand for that which was good, right and true.
According to a recent AAA survey, 112 million American traveled 50 miles or more to celebrate Christmas in 2018. Like most holidays, airports and highways will be packed as families travel back and forth from these destinations. Yet, how many arrived safely without incident? Furthermore, how many individuals gave thanks to God upon arriving?
“Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean,” William Bradford, 1620.
The quote above seems applicable for any trip that you take. In an exhibit dedicated to Pilgrims at the Museum of the Bible, Bradford’s recollection of the Pilgrim’s landfall upon Plymouth Rock reveals the faith of those who set sail across the Atlantic. Apparently, the Mayflower experienced rough seas, squalls and unsettling weather. Nonetheless, when this journey was complete, God received the credit for arriving safely.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name, Hebrews 13:15.
As someone who has driven nearly one million miles behind the wheel of a car, my appreciation for God is lacking. Sure, when road conditions are treacherous I cry out to the Lord, but rarely do I thank God when I arrive. As I travel back home in the morning, I need to apply the passage above. Praise should be continual, daily and genuine. Instead of taking credit for keeping my family safe, I need to thank angels, divine intervention and God’s mercy for watching over me and my family. Perhaps, we can all learn from the Pilgrims, with a reason to celebrate the little things in life.
Depending upon the quality of your air conditioner and furnace unit, air filters need to be replaced as soon as thirty days or as long as six months. The U.S. Department of Energy claims that replacing a dirty filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5 to 10 percent. Meanwhile, furnace filters should be changed every two to three months depending upon the size of your filter. Whether you live in an apartment, condo or home, basic upkeep is essential to prolonging your appliances.
We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5.
The Bible refers to a different kind of filter. According to the apostle Paul, the human mind is a spiritual filter. Whenever a thought enters your head, God has given individuals the ability to stop evil from corrupting your body. Before I became a Christian, I was oblivious to the concept of angels, demons and the powers of darkness. Yet, the more that I read the Bible, the more I understand the importance of replacing your filter by making every thought obedient to Christ. This is accomplished by memorizing and meditating upon verses of the Bible to prevent evil from persuading souls to give into temptation.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places, Ephesians 6:12.
While the media attempts to convince the world that certain individuals are the enemy, the apostle Paul corrects the record in the passage above. Sure, there will always be people that rub you the wrong way by getting under your skin. Yet, the Devil uses physical opponents to suppress any joy that you may have in your heart. This is why replacing your spiritual filter daily with biblical principles, God’s promises and truth is essential. The next time strange thoughts catch you off guard, replace the filter in your mind with the Word of God. May this practice renew and transform your mind, Romans 12:1-2.
If you study Old English. tyranny is an expression used to describe a cruel and oppressive government. Whenever people in authority exert undemocratic rule, employ an unreasonable amount of force or suppress the rights of their citizens, rebellion, revolts and uprisings follow. People who survive war or escape tyranny tend to turn to the Bible for answers in life. Perhaps, this may explain why the Bible is the greatest selling book of all time.
“No other book of any kind ever written in English has ever so affected the whole life of a people,” Theodore Roosevelt in 1911.
Theodore Roosevelt is one of four presidents whose face is on Mount Rushmore. The other three presidents are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. After his tenure as the 26th president of the United States, 1901-1909, Roosevelt made a profound statement about the Bible. While the context of this quote is unclear, Roosevelt understood the power that the living Word of God has on the ability to transform human lives.
“Six days a week we live under the tyranny of the things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to holiness in time,” Abraham Joshua Heschel from The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man, 1951.
Forty years later, Abraham Heschel explored the Bible to make the connection between freedom and the Sabbath. Depending upon your work schedule, life is filled with monotony, the mundane and tedious tasks that typical occupations require. Thus, the tyranny of the things in space is a human being running through the rat race called life without any purpose and reason. However, when you apply biblical principles to keep the Sabbath holy, becoming attuned to God, helps souls see how everything else in life is so insignificant. When faith is exercised daily, the Sabbath isn’t merely one day of the week, its a lifestyle that enable Christians to escape the tyranny of the things of space.
If you work for a large company, you will come across various characters, personalities and temperaments. Meanwhile, if you are a regular visitor of social media sites, you can usually decipher those seeking attention from people who simply enjoy connecting with friends. While there are numerous methods entrepreneurs can cash in on today, it’s okay to live a quiet life beyond the spot life. Such is the case of one first century man.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by [the power of] the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her [promised] husband, being a just and righteous man and not wanting to expose her publicly to shame, planned to send her away and divorce her quietly, Matthew 1:18-19.
As a former junior high teacher, teenagers can be cruel. Teens going through puberty can be down right nasty. Imagine if your girl friend shows up to school pregnant and you didn’t have sex with her. These were the thoughts racing through Joseph’s mind when his fiancée returns home from his aunt’s house several months pregnant. Betrayed, confused and distraught, Joseph was on his way to break off his engagement quietly to avoid a messy divorce. When an angel intervened, this forgotten man of Christmas had to wait until Jesus was born to consecrate his marriage.
Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover Feast. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning [to Nazareth], after spending the required number of days [at the Feast], the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and traveled a day’s journey; and [then] they began searching [anxiously] for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for Him [everywhere], Luke 2:41-45.
Joseph is one of those characters who quickly fades from the forefront, written out of a drama, movie or show after completing his mission. There is only one mention of Joseph in the Bible following the events of Christmas, Jesus’ bar mitzvah, the event to celebrate a Jewish boy becoming a man. This symbolic act enabled Jesus to become a man in God’s house. Joseph likely died of natural causes, assumed to be dead and long gone, out of the picture, by the four gospel authors. Then again, Joseph could have completed God’s will for his life following Jesus’ bar mitzvah. Either way, Joseph is the forgotten man of Christmas, taking a back seat to Emmanuel, God with us in the form of baby Jesus..
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by [the power of] the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her [promised] husband, being a just and righteous man and not wanting to expose her publicly to shame, planned to send her away and divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The Lord is salvation), for He will save His people from their sins,” Matthew 1:18-21.
You have probably heard of the 12 days of Christmas, a catechism song published in the 1780’s by oppressed Catholics. Yet, 4 dreams that made Christmas possible, the mass of Christ, are often overlooked. The first dream prevented Jesus from growing up in a single parent household, void of an earthly father. While dreams are a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep, the Lord sent an angel from heaven like a scene from a Christmas movie, to fulfill God’s plan for redemption on earth.
Dream #2
Now when they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child in order to destroy Him.” 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet [Hosea]: “Out of Egypt I called My Son,” Matthew 2:13-15.
Whenever you have any dream, there are rationale explanations. This could be due to simply day dreaming, mental aspirations, nightmares or stress. However, from a spiritual perspective, there are times when God uses dreams as a form of divine intervention. The second dream of Christmas provoked an immediate response by awakening the soul of Joseph. Just as Old Testament families plotted the deaths of brothers who stood in their way of the throne, Herod attempted to slaughter the king of the Jews. However, babies are hard to identify from one another at an early age. Thus, King Herod devised a plan to kill all babies under the age of 2. This dream enabled Mary, Joseph and Jesus to escape this massacre in a nick of time.
Dream #3
But when Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 “Get up! Take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph got up, and took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel, Matthew 2:19-21.
Most people use an alarm clock to get up each morning. Others use their cell phone to make sure they are not late for work. However, this third dream introduces the concept of keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25. After being on the run, living in a foreign land, another angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream. It’s unclear if God sent the same angel each time, but this dream served as a spiritual alarm clock to get up and go. This dream set the stage for the future king of the Jews to return home to Israel. Although this is only an assumption, after news of Herod’s slaughter of countless baby boys reached Egypt, Joseph likely developed a keen awareness of his dreams. Thus, each night as Joseph went to sleep, he was eager, hopeful and waiting for another encounter with God.
Dream #4
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod [the Great], he was afraid to go there. Then being warned by God in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee, 23 and went and settled in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene,” Matthew 1:22-23.
The final dream of Christmas varies from the first three. The Lord didn’t need to send an angel to get Joseph’s attention. Rather, by this time in his life, Joseph was in tune with God, like a faithful servant eagerly awaiting his next command. These dreams radically transformed the life of Jesus’ earthly father. Instead of doubting, questioning or becoming a skeptic, Joseph had become a believer in God’s plan. Mary and Joseph may not have understood the impact their son would make on earth, yet they began to walk by faith, not by sight. As Christmas carols take over the airwaves this December, don’t forget to remind people of how God used dreams to protect and ensure this sacred holiday. May these dreams open your mind to the possibility of God speaking to you and me in a similar manner today.
Prominent founding fathers argued that the United States Constitution should not be ratified as it failed to protect the basic principles of human liberty. This led James Madison to propose amendments to the constitution. These amendments known as the Bill of Rights were inspired by George Mason’s 1776 Virginia Declarations of Rights, the 1689 English Bill of Rights, works during the Age of Enlightenment pertaining to natural rights and the Magna Carta, 1215. Ironically, the Magna Carta would inspire American colonists a few hundred years later to declare independence from Great Britain. Roughly one-third of the provisions in the United States’ Bill of Rights draw from the Magna Carta, particularly from its 39th clause.
“The fundamental basis of this Nation’s law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings that we get from Exodus and St, Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul, ” President Harry S. Truman, 1950.
The 33rd president of the United States goes one step further, claiming that the foundation upon which the United States has based its laws comes directly out of the Bible. As a World War I veteran and the Vice President to FDR, Truman who took office following Roosevelt’s death. Under Truman’s leadership, World War II ended following the use of two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Less than a month after dropping these bombs, Japan surrendered. Sometimes you have to use drastic measures to end worldly conflicts. While Truman is still criticized today for this controversial decision, few will remember this president for his quote listed above. Although modern historians glance over, ignore and suppress biblical influences on the founding of America, the Bill of Rights borrows from civil law within the ten commandments.
“Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you.13 “You shall not commit murder (unjustified, deliberate homicide).14 “You shall not commit adultery.15 “You shall not steal [secretly, openly, fraudulently, or through carelessness].16 “You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (any person).17 “You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor,” Exodus 20:12-17.
The ten commandments contain two separate categories, loving God and loving your neighbor, Matthew 22:36-39. The first four provide instructions on how individuals can honor and please the Lord. The final six focus on civil laws or as Jesus details in Matthew 22, loving your neighbor as yourself. This is the foundation of the Golden Rule, “treating other people as you want to be treated.” In this day and age, educators, lawyers and politicians often try to make the simple complex. Yet, Jesus simplifies the fundamental basis for law so that even a young child can understand. Every day God offers free will, giving people the option to love or hate, forgive or hold grudges, overlook offenses or magnify sin. The choice is yours, but I pray that the Holy Spirit inspires you during this Christmas season to develop an overwhelming desire to love God and those you come in contact with daily.
In the 1988 film Scrooged, Bill Murray plays a selfish, cynical television executive who is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve. Bitter, disappointed and frustrated, Murray’s character came to the conclusion that Christmas was a fraud. Far worse than Ebenezer Scrooge, Murray is visited by the ghost of Christmas past, present and future. These shocking encounters convict Murray’s heart like the wealthy man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The only difference is that Murray is still alive while the rich man in the story below died.
So the rich man said, ‘Then, father [Abraham], I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house—28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may solemnly warn them and witness to them, so that they too will not come to this place of torment.’29 But Abraham said, ‘They have [the Scriptures given by] Moses and the [writings of the] Prophets; let them listen to them,’ Luke 16:27-29.
Parables are meant to be analogies, hypothetical scenarios to illustrate spiritual truths. Within this particular story, Jesus details a conversation between Abraham who is in heaven with a desperate rich man pleading his case from hell. This man asks to be sent back to his family on earth in the form of a ghost, similar to the concept of the ghost of Christmas past. Despite this man’s concern to save his family from the same eternal fate he is enduring, Abraham vehemently denies this request. While Abraham references the importance of listening to and studying the words of Old Testament prophets, his reason for saying no is clear. You must walk by faith, not by sight.
He replied, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent [they will change their old way of thinking and seek God and His righteousness].’ 31 And he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to [the messages of] Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead,’” Luke 16:30-31.
Every Christmas, pastors, priests, reverends and teachers attempt to share a fresh approach to Christmas, coming up with an unique angle or spin. Of all of the sermons I have heard at Christmas Eve and or Christmas Day services, Abraham’s exchange with this rich man in hell is not one of them. Human nature makes individuals think, “if I only saw a ghost, speak to the dead or witness a miracle, then I would believe.” Yet, in reality, you shouldn’t have to experience the death and resurrection of Jesus to believe. The author of Hebrews references this in Hebrews 6:1-6, supporting Abraham’s excuse for denying a first century visit from the ghost of Christmas past.
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